Pinellas Environmental Campaign Features Photo by St. Pete High Student

The photo was the winner of a countywide contest open to Pinellas high school students.

PINELLAS COUNTY – A photo taken by St. Petersburg High School student J.C. Pritchett III is the centerpiece of Pinellas County’s 2016 Watershed: LiveWorkPlay public outreach campaign.

Taken on St. Pete Beach, the photo of silhouetted hands held in the shape of a heart with the water behind, was the winner of this year’s watershed photo contest, which was open to Pinellas County high school students. Teens were asked to take a photo of where they live, go to school, or play and post it to Instagram using #wtrshd. A committee that included high school students chose the winning photo. J.C. received the prize of a canoe trip for six at Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg.

A video used in the campaign, produced by Pinellas County communications, stars members of the Pinellas County Youth Advisory Committee. Established in 2001, YAC was developed as a vehicle for young people to provide input and assistance to the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners.

Watershed outreach was one of the projects that the group voted to work on this year. As part of their efforts, the members participated in creating the public service announcement video to promote the photo contest, which was played in county high schools, Instagram and on the Pinellas County website. The series of educational posters and videos was produced to raise awareness about the importance of Pinellas County watershed and what residents can do to protect their waterways.

For information about Pinellas County’s watershed, go to pinellascounty.org. For information about St. Petersburg High School, go to pcsb.org.